Joint or fastening for balusters



No Model.)

W. H. B H. JOINT OR FASTENING ALUSTERS, 620.

No. 422,712. Patented Mar. 4, 1890.

Witmwy Q amen whoa WM 9mm 2/, 2,022;

' I v I 35 i aflfo'one N2 PETERS, Photo-Lithographer. wflim m D. C

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

lVILLIAM I-I. BURCH, OF SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

JOINT OR FASTENING FOR BALUSTERS, 84C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 422,712, dated March 4, 1890.

Application filed December 12, 1889. Serial No. 333,391. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. BURCH, of Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Joints or Fastenings for Balusters, &c.; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to a new and improved joint or fastening for uniting and securing balusters, posts, and similar turned work to a base or support; and it consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan View of the support, and Fig. 2 is an end or edge view of same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the baluster or post. Fig. 4 is a sectional View through the post and support.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.

The letter A designates'the post or baluster, and B the supportsuch as a step-to which the post is to be applied. The post is formed or provided with a spherical tenon a, preferably smaller than the base a, and connected thereto by a neck a of cylindrical or other appropriate cross'section. A cylinderopening I) of about the same or slightly greater diameter than the tenon a is formed in the base B, commencing at the edge or side of said base and extending inward ataslight angle to the upper horizontal surface. Through the upper surface of the support and near the edge thereof is formed a second opening b intersecting the first opening, as shown. The openings 1) b forming the mortise for the reception of the tenon a, are each cylindrical in cross-section, and can most conveniently be made by means of an anger or other suit able boringdnstrument. Thus in forming the opening I) an auger-hole is formed com mencing at the edge and continued atan an gle inward and downward or away from the upper face of the support, so that the mate rial between the upper wall of said. opening will increase in thickness from the edge in ward to or beyond the point where the post is to be applied. The vertical opening 12 for the accommodation of the neck a of the tenon, is made with an anger of substantially the same or larger diameter than the neck a and, if desired or necessary, the outer corners may be cut away by a chisel or otherwise to permit the neck of the tenon to enter and be seated within said opening. The mortise having thus been formed, the post, previously provided with spherical tenon, is placed in position and firmly held by insertingthe tenon a in the portion 2) of the mortise and forcing it inward, when, by reason of the inclination given the opening I), the post will be drawn down until its base a is brought firmly in contact with and seated upon the upper face of the support. When thus brought to position, or during or beforeits insertion, the post can readily be turned on its longitudinal axis and thus adjusted, after which it may be secured in position by suitable fastenings.

A convenient, cheap, and expeditious mode of securing such articles as posts or balusters to stairs and like objects when provided with the improved fastening is by forming the tenon and mortise of such relative proportions that when the post is brought to position a portion of the periphery of the spherical tenon will project beyond the edge or face of the support, and when the post is adjusted to final position cutting oif this projecting portion of the tenon flush with the edge of the support or otherwise to form a shoulder, against which a finishing-strip 0, applied to the edge of the support, bears and effectually prevents further rotary movement of the post.

The described fastening or joint is of great practical. utility, especially as applied to balusters and similar turned articles, which are usually manufactured in quantities for ap plication where desired.

No special tools or skill on the part of the workman is required. An ordinary boringbit is all that is necessary for forming the mortise, the latter requiring but two measurements -the one for locating the Vertical and the other for thehorizontal inclined open ings.

The adjustment of the post by turning about its longitudinal axis may be effected after it is brought into position, and when the finishing strip is employed for preventing further rotation the edge of the support forms a guide for cutting off the side of the spherical tenon, so that when said strip is applied it will fit snugly against the fiat face of the tenon and prevent its rotation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. The combination,to form a joint or fastening, such as described, 0f the post provided with a spherical tenon and a support having the inclined cylindrical opening and the vertical opening communicating therewith, forming a mortise for the reception of said tenon, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the post provided with a fiat base and a spherical tenon with cylindrical neck uniting it to the base, of the support provided with a cylindrical opening extending from the'edgc inward and downward from the surface and a second opening formed in the upper face of the support and communicating with the first-named opening, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with the support provided with a mortise composed of the inclined cylindrical opening and the vertical opening or slot, both of said openings extending to the edge of the support, of the post provided with a spherical tenon having a portion of its periphery cut away and a finishing-strip covering the edge of the support and engaging said tenon 'to prevent rotation within its mortise or socket, as and forthe purpose set forth.

WILLIAM H. BURCH.

Witnesses:

MILE J. KEMP, CHARLES E. WETMoRn. 

